Thermal transfer printable label tape is polyimide-based permanent pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive tape, designed for thermal transfer printing with black (or colored) resin-based ribbons. It is also designed for barcode or alphanumeric identification of printed circuit boards or related electronic components. A printed circuit board (PCB) mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components or electrical components using conductive tracks, pads, and other features etched from one or more sheet layers of copper laminated onto and/or between sheet layers of a non-conductive substrate. Components are generally soldered onto the PCB to both electrically connect and mechanically fasten them to it. Printed circuit boards are used in all but the simplest electronic products. They are also used in some electrical products, such as passive switch boxes. Electronic equipment manufacturers benefit from the automated assembly, processing, test, and packaging systems which include automatic identification. A bar code label is commonly adhered to a printed circuit board before soldering to provide for automatic identification. It must withstand harsh thermal and chemical exposures and still meet optical requirements for reliable scanning. PCBs can be single-sided (one copper layer), double-sided (two copper layers on both sides of one substrate layer), or multi-layer (outer and inner layers of copper, alternating with layers of the substrate). PCB barcodes need to be scannable, even at a tiny size, and they must withstand heat and chemicals without shrinking, curling up, or falling off. With solder temps rising to 550°F, the choice of printer, label material, and the adhesive is critical. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) labels are specially designed for circuit board applications and are high-temperature labels that allow for easy tracking of electrical components throughout the production process, in addition to the labeling of finished products. Having the right labels for circuit boards allows for the withstanding of heat up to 280 degrees. In addition, it’s important to consider that the label’s adhesive material is able to withstand high temperatures of up to 1000 degrees and be durable enough to last throughout the life of the circuit board.
